Train-order signal.



no. 648,35l. Patented Apr. 24, I900.

r. n. ALLEN. TRMN ORDER SIGNAL.

(Application filed Dec. 7, 1899.)

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NITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK D. ALLEN, OF STONE CLIFF, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOJOHN A. HALLSTED, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

TRAIN-ORDER SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,351, da e Ap 1900-Application filed December 7, 1899. Elerial No. 739,560- (No modelandState of West Virginia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Train-Order Signals, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to semaphore or train order signals for railways;and it pertains more particularly to that class of train-signalsembodying day and night indicating disks and lamps adapted to be setnormally to danger position by gearing devices set to one position bygravity-operated means and adapted to be moved to their other positionby lever-and-chain mechanisms operative from the station or signal-box.

My invention particularly seeks to provide a signal apparatus of thecharacter stated having the operating mechanism compactly arranged andcapable of being economically constructed, easily set up to an operativeposition, conveniently manipulated, and which will effectively serve forits intended purposes.

This invention in its general construction comprehends a novelarrangement of a supporting-bracket and signal-lamp and sectional diskmembers operatively combined with the lamp-signal,whereby the danger orfair signals can be set without disturbing the position of the lamp.

In its more subordinate features my invention embodies certain detailsof construction and combination of parts, all of which will behereinafter fully described, and set out in the appended claims,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa perspective view of the preferred form of my invention. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the form shown in Fig. lwith the signals set to a redor danger position or; stop. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the signalset to the clear or proceed position. Fig.

4 is a plan view of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in

X by the bolts M M. Fixedly connected to or formed integral with thebracket M is a vertical shaft F, on the upper end of which is fixedlyheld a signal-lamp, which may be of any approved construction, the same,however, being set withits bulls-eyes in the direction of the trackway.In connection with the fixedly-held lamp I employ a novel arrangement ofsectional disks, comprising a pair of complete circular plates N, eachofwhich has a semicircular plate O fixedly secured thereto and projectedat right angles therefrom. Each disk N O is rigidly secured to thebracket-arm E, and both of the bracketarms E form an integral part ofthe hub E, rotatably held on the shaft F and resting upon the annularseat M of the bracket M.

It will be noticed by reference to Fig. 2 that the two brackets Eproject one from each side of the hub E and in diametrically-oppositedirections, and the hub E has a vertical arm E with which connects theouter end of the pitman-rod D, the inner end of which pivotally joinsthe short arm 0 of the bell-crank lever, the long arm 0 of which carriesa counterpoise or weight K, adjustably held upon the said arm 0 thepurpose of which is to normally cause the bell-crank lever to gravitateto the position shown in Fig. 2 and in consequence swing the disks N Oto close.

over the lamp for the danger or blocking position.

B indicates a cable-sheave mounted on the post X, and A indicates thepull-rope, which passes through the said sheave and connects to theouter end of the arm 0 of the lever.

So far as described it will be readily apparent that the force of theweight when falling to a vertical position causes the double sets ofdisks N O to turn at an angle of ninety degrees or a quarter-way roundto the position shown in Fig. 2, and the disks N have border circles, inpractice painted white, while the disk members 0 have similar circlespainted black. It will thus be seen that when the disks N O are swung tothe position shown in Fig. 2 the red circles appear to view, showing thesignals set to danger, it being obvious that when the tension of thecord A is released the weight K drops to a vertical position and thedisks N 0 will be set, as shown distance.

turned to the fair position, asindicatedin' Fig. 3, and when in thisposition and the lamp is lighted it is evident the said lamp will serveas night-signals and show white in both di rections.

take the position shown in Fig. 3 and indicate a clear way. or noorders. j

The semicircular plate members 0 in prac tice are painted white with ablack border, and said plates are added to the disk-plates N as an extrameans of indicatinga-clear trackway, as the said plates may be. seen ata greater distance from the office than is possible to see theedges otthe plates N and the lamp .during the day, thereby enabling theengineman of the approaching train tosee at a glance that he has noorders to obtain at the station he may be passing and to enable the redbulls-eye J to be better seen from a The plates 0 have portions cutaway,as indicated at O. In practice the supporting-bracket is cast and'made in such shape as to combine lightness with strength,

the same being made of a solid casting, in

which is included thespindle or shaft F upon .the lamp 0 and on whichthe disks revolve.

To limit the swing of the weighted arm 0 Q and to reduce any unnecessaryshock of abutting. of parts, the Weight K is in practice pro- J videdwith a rubber impact member D, pro jected from one side, which isadapted to engage with the bracket M when the weightis swung upward, asshown in Fig. 3. I

So far as .described it is thought the com-- plete operation andadvantages of my invention will be readily understood. It will be nogerof an improper adjustment of the lampat any time is avoided.Furthermore, thedisks w-hen'to their open position show a positive clearwayand at the same time act as guards to protect the lamp from directsun-rays,=and thereby keeps the lamps in a proper conditionto be viewedfrom a great distance;

' The parts are compactly arranged and-are of such character as to beeasily set without danger of their readily-becoming out of order. Havingthus described my invention, what I- claim, and desire to secure byLetters Pat When in this position, the signal" is held secure by theweight until the cord-A is drawn taut, when the signal can instantly 1-.A railwaysignal mechanism, comprising a supporting-bracket; asignal-lamp fixedly mounted thereon with the bullseeyes held in line ofthetrackway and a set of signal-disks rotatablymounted upon the bracket;means for automatically setting the disks to close over'the signal-lamp,said disks having righta-ngled projections forming fair or clear-'waysignal faces, said projections being arranged to'set in line of thetrackway when the disks are'swung over to the clear or open positions,said disks having danger bulls-eye portions constructed to project overthe lamp bullseyes when the said disks are held to a danger position andhand-operated means for setting the signal to the clear position'asspecified.

2. In a railway-signal of the character described, in combinationgabracket-support having a spindle projecting upwardly there from; a lampfixedly mounted on saidspindle and having its bullseyes in line of thetrackway; a bracket rotatably mounted on the aforesaid spindle andhaving a pair of oppositely-projecting arms; a danger-faced disk fixedlyconnected to each arm, said dangerfaced disks having each a dangerbulls-eye portion adapted ,to be'brought in line with the lampbulls-eyes; gravity-operated means connected with the rotatable-diskbracket for turning the two danger-disks at right angles over thebulls-eye-faces of the lamp, saiddisks having right-angled projectingportions forming fairsignal faces, and means for swinging thedanger-disks to an open'position with their edges in a plane of .thetrackway and their fair-disk projections facing the trackway, allsubstantially as shown and'described.

'3. The combination of the bracket M, h'avvingan upwardly-projectingspindle ,F; the sheave B andlthe lamp H, said lamp being fixedly heldupon the spindle F, and having its bulls-ey'e in line with thetrack-way; of-

.the bracket E, having oppositely-projecting arms E thedisks N, havingright-angle semicircular disk portions .0, said portions 0, havingcut-out sections in the planeof the lamp bulls-eyes, the disks: N,having bulls-eye members J; thejbracket E, having-a horizontall y-projectin g crank member the bell-crank leverOfihavinga counterpoise K; anoperating-cord connected to the upper end. of the bell-crank lever andguided upon the sheave B; a pitman-rod pivotally connected to thebell-cranklever and the crank portion of the bracket E, all beingarranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described. 1 FRANKD. ALLEN. Q 'Witnesses:

J. H. BOYD, G. P. PERRY.

